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3 superintendent finalists named at Nashoba Tech

By Melissa Hanson, mhanson@lowellsun.com

Updated:
01/13/2016 06:39:12 AM EST

WESTFORD -- Three local educators will have one more hour to make their case on why they are the right fit to be the next superintendent of Nashoba Valley Technical High School, taking over a legacy left by Judith Klimkiewicz.

After nearly an hour of deliberation, the committee selected Nashoba Tech Principal Denise Pigeon, Somerville High School Career and Technical Education Department Director Leo DeSimone and Shawsheen Valley Technical High School Assistant Superintendent Carissa Karakaedos as their top three finalists.

The search has proven difficult for the committee, which expressed faith in the five candidates they interviewed last week. Despite their belief that any of them could do the job, members said the top three finalists offered something more than Joseph Mastrocola, former superintendent of Peabody Public Schools, and Mary Jane Rickson, assistant superintendent at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer.

The committee spoke highly of Pigeon's intelligence and commitment to Nashoba.

"I believe she has shown her dedication to the school," said member Ted Januskiewicz, of Ayer. "She has watched and worked with the current superintendent. She knows exactly what needs to be done here and why."

That sentiment was shared by most of the committee.

The only negative thing the committee could identify about Pigeon was that she has slightly less experience than the other candidates.

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The committee said they were extremely impressed by DeSimone's preparation for his interview. He visited all the district towns, eating at local restaurants and chatting with residents. He also sat down with Chelmsford Town Manager Paul Cohen, created a mock budget for Nashoba, and walked around the campus to get a feel for the school.

"If his preparation for this interview was any precursor of how he's going to prepare on a daily basis for this job..." Sheldon Chapman of Townsend said, pausing, "he did the most outstanding job out of all the candidates."

The committee was also impressed with the improvements DeSimone made at CTE, increasing enrollment and creating a partnership with businesses at Assembly Row in Somerville. They thought he would be able to make a personal connection with students, having attended a vocational school himself.

The confidence in the candidates continued with Karakaedos, who impressed the board with her charisma.

"She's self-assured. I think she presented well," said Ronald Deschenes, of Westford, who thought she had a lot of skill from her nine years as assistant superintendent.

Samuel Poulten, of Chelmsford, said he was "blown away" by Karakaedos, and that he could envision her making budget presentations.

The three finalists will each have a one-hour interview next Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m.

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